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Hi all.....I've just bougt my first board, a Salomon Riot 2010.....Do I need to have it filed?? Or can I just get on the slope & go?! I'll be riding in a snow dome for now. All advice greatly appeciated!! Many thanks.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

dhenry72,

If I were you I would de tune the edges at the nose and tail with a file and then use a diamond file and gummy stone to smooth out any burrs. Be careful not to get any of the filings onto the base tho'. A good hot wax would be a decent idea as well to add some protection to your brand new pride and joy !
Google the subject and you'll find some crackin' "how to" videos on You Tube.

Great post first class i recently took up snowboarding and has been easily the hardest sport i have done so far. Theres alot of good tips in this post and will have an update when ive tryed them out.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

most useful thing i was told was just look at side cut of board i.e imagine a plank then a big circle cutting out each side..if that makes sense? then let the board flow through the whole length of the circle..dont force it..plus if you dont surf or skate start off quite narrow with front angle 18-26 degree , rear also pointing forward 6 to 12 degree...keep weight on front foot and feel the flow. its quite a 'hard boot' way to learn but give good tech

Ive got 25 weeks + skiing under my belt but want to take up snowboarding for next season. Thinking of starting off with lessons on the local dry slope before progressing to the snowdome. Is this a good idea. Certainly helped me learning to ski 19 years ago.

After all it is free

After all it is free

Thanks for the info

You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.

You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.

Just about to get my first lesson on a board and sample the dark side. 1 question RE: Regular or goofy..?

As above:

I kick a ball with my right foot (pretty well) = Regular
I slide on a floor / ice, right foot first = Goofy
Fall test result = Goofy
Used to skateboard = Goofy

Do I need to see a doctor..?

Ski the Net with snowHeads

Ski the Net with snowHeads

I kick with right but fall test is left.... so don't worry

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Put it this way, the first few lessons I took, I rode goofy, then switched to regular and stayed that way... However those early learning experiences as a goof meant that I took to switch riding really quickly.

Mac22, sounds like you're goofy, go with it.

And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.

And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.

Is it that critical? If you able to switch, then you should be able to go down both ways and just go with what is comfortable at the time? Am I wrong? I've only done boarding once and only just started turns (mostly did sideslipping, traverse and leafing), but found myself heading down either way at times, purely cause at that time and where I was on the slope, that made sense at that moment.

So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much

So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much

It's entirely a matter of personal preference. People usually favour one leg over the other, the same way they're left or right handed. If there's a way you find easier than the other then theres your answer.

You know it makes sense.

You know it makes sense.

im new to snowboarding and to snowheads, but i was woundering if any of you out there have driven to france during christmas new year and where you went and if you have any advice about accomodation along the way.:-]

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Hi, welcome.
I got no experience so can't help but maybe if you post in the "Resort Reviews and Trip Reports" you might get more of a response.
Although, everyone is helpful here so I'm sure you'll get some assistance.

Poster: A snowHead

Poster: A snowHead

Can I put a word in for the sane people who ski? Generally we tolerate you plank-worriers damaging our slopes but when it come to chair lift etiquette, the novice branch of your fraternity would do well to to remember the following: you should mount the chair lift on the side towards which your snowboard swings away from the seat (which will obviously depend on whether you are goofy or not). Also, you should try to get a lift buddy with the same stance orientation (preferably the entire chair). The single biggest casue of falls at the top of chair lifts that I have seen is where a novice boarder decides to plant his or her butt in the centre of the chair lift and force everyone else to either side of them. This means that when they shape to dismount (as described above) their board almost invariable gets in someone else's way - could be another boarder or a skiier - and they can get tangled up. This is especially bad when a goofy novice and a regular novice have not thought about it and end up taking each other out becasue their boards are trying to swing in opposing directions on the dismount. A moments thought BEFORE you hit the lift queue will save you much grief at the top.

Also Masque has been very kind and wise and told you grommets to plant and glide - do NOT thrash around trying to push away at the dismount point - step on the stomp pad and glide. There are people - and I am not saying I am one - who will drop a novice boarder off the side of the nearest black run for catching them in the knee with a board whilst trying to walk/stagger away from the dismount point - you have been warned.

Masque - nice advice in general and about the T-Bar specifically - been there, done that, got the partial DIY briss .....

Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

I know this was ages ago but what a brilliant post. I have tried (not very hard) twice to learn to board but only when the snow is too yucky for me to want to ski. So not great for boarding either! I'll be printing out this write up and taking it with me so I can have a go at learning the basics on a quite bit of snow before I get someone to help me learn on the slopes proper. Thanx lots

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

The thing that hurts the knees the most whilst snowboarding is trying push yourself along with one foot while the other is strapped as your strapped in leg (and therefore knee) twist considerably. Try to strap your board on as close as possible to the lifts.

Ive started a beginner course, but I can get the toe edge ok, but keep falling over when i try and go from toe top heel, the instructor says im not turning and looking into the turn smooth enough? Anything I should be thinking of when doing it?

After all it is free

After all it is free

Sarny, Get yourself a copy of Go Snowboard by Neil McNab - all will be revealed.

You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.

You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.

cad99uk wrote:

Sarny, Get yourself a copy of Go Snowboard by Neil McNab - all will be revealed.

This, definitely. The DVD interaction with the book enables you to learn aesthetically which generally makes for faster learning for the majority. Its great stuff in there and can benefit riders of beginner to intermediate at least.

I find the hands on knees drill probably the most beneficial bit of help I have received to date in my limited boarding career.

Ski the Net with snowHeads

Ski the Net with snowHeads

dennisp, Another good drill for you. If you ride regular: Left hand gripping jacket at your right shoulder, right hand gripping seam of right trouser leg at hip level. This keeps your upper body nicely in line with the board.